Microstock Photography Forum - General > General Photography Discussion

Bidding for photography job

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gostwyck:
I'd assume, because of the question you're asking, that you're not a professional commercial photographer and therefore also do not have the high overheads that go with running such a business. If you had premises and employed staff, etc then it is a very different matter.

In that case you should not be quoting anything like some of the rates being talked about here and IMHO the rates you suggest yourself are far closer to reality.

I don't see that there's an issue in 'releasing the images' here either as they are commissioning the shoot and specifying the shots they want. The images are unlikely to have any commercial value other than to the client anyway so you are not losing anything.

Personally I always quote an 'all in' figure to the client __ and explain that that includes your time, travel, equipment, software, batteries, etc. It makes it easier for the client to compare the quote against others and the easier you make it for them the more they will like you. At the moment they have a problem and they want someone to provide a quick, simple, cost-effective solution.

If I were you I'd quote either $195 or $245 as it sounds like your first job. You'll almost certainly get the job but if someone else undercuts you then it's a job you don't want anyway.

Don't forget that clients can be very demanding, late payers, etc and there's many other things that could go wrong with the shoot too (wrong weather, camera settings, etc, etc). You need to build in a bit of a safety margin into your quote to at least cover your costs if you end up having to do a re-shoot at your own expense for whatever the reason.

davey_rocket:
Thanks for the advice everyone.  I bid $250 and was awarded the job.  As a newbie at this it's frustrating because I don't know how much higher I could have bid and still got the job.  Either way it's $250 for about three hours work, I can't complain about that at all :)

m@m:
Congratulations Davey...hey the important part is that you got the job, well done.

Best regards.

microstockinsider:
You should be thinking about charging a day rate, and being reluctant to split work into half a day. Even if you only spend 3 hours on the job, there is travel, post processing, delivery/email/ftp etc and all the work involved in quoting and invoicing to account for. (ignoring the long term expenses likes cameras and computers)

I'm so glad you didn't take it for $25 an hour! if they argue for it that cheap then stick your ground or offer to do it for free and charge as a sample, then charge full rate next time. If you are good they will be back with more work.

Randy McKown:
You know it also depends on who is footing the bill .. I always consider who the client is and what their budget might be. I have made $70 an hour and I have been paid $2500 an hour .. Bigger client = Bigger Budget

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